3 = talk talk talk talk talk

So the theme with Graham and Parker lately is talking. They have really taken off with full sentences. Sometimes I am wondering how they come up with some of what they say.

They will be 3 in April. I am happy they are pretty much on track with most things. I have always been a bit worried because they were born 8 weeks early. Parker is still really small but the pediatrician says he is fine.
Graham is pretty much the size of the average almost 3 year old.

We spend a lot of time with our playgroup. I think it helps a lot.

We have been working on pronouncing words correctly, colors, shapes, counting, songs, signing, all the good stuff. We spend time at the Zoo and Science Center regularly. We also spend lots of time going to the park and other great places like library storytime & craft (on a break from storytime right now though). It is tough to fit in all of the cool places we go to!!

They are doing well socializing and learning. They enjoy seeing their friends. We also are in a weekly home preschool group. They know their friends by name and talk about them when we are at home. They like to talk about the places we go. They ask to go to the places they like best like The Zoo, The Science Center, Certain Parks, they ask to see certain friends or if certain friends will be meeting them for a playdate that day. It's cute!  Graham is still more academically advanced. Parker is still athletically advanced. Parker's latest thing is doing head stands and then multiple somersaults in a row. He LOVES the head stands. He sort of does hand stands too. He loves to hang upside down at the park. They still enjoy Gymboree too!!  They ask about Gymboree on the days we are not going to our class. They love it!!  Graham is still really into reading books. He looks at books a lot all day still. He likes to talk out loud while going through his books. He also likes me to read to him...or any family member.

For our home preschool class we work on learning through play. It has been tough to really get things going the right way but it seems we are on a great path now. I think we finally have a way to get all of the kids interacting involved, and enjoying!  I will try and take some pics of our home preschooling soon.

Still working on all of the details of their 3rd birthday party. Should be lots of fun!!

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We were in a parade!

I set it up so that my playgroup could walk in the City of Winter Park Florida's 32nd annual St Patricks Day Parade!  It was a lot of fun.  We had to wait quite in the line-up to start walking in the parade but once it started, we had a blast.  The kids all really enjoyed it.  Graham and Parker just loved waving at the crowd on Park Avenue who where there to watch the parade. We plan to start volunteering for the next Parades as well. We have a banner, which makes it possible for us now. Check out our photos!

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Attn: Mom, We are Big Boys now!!

My Twins will be three years old in April. The almost three year olds in them is really shining through lately.
I have noticed they are really on top of talking in full sentences, changing their preferences, & exerting their independence. They have been using phrases lately that show they are making changes and growing up some.
It is pretty strange seeing them turn into three year olds. I have three "singleton" children who are much older (almost 15, almost 11, and almost 13), and they were much different when they were two-going-on-three.

I know a kid is a kid. and all kids develop differently but I feel like things are much different with Graham and Parker than they were with my older three kids.I don't even know how to explain it. I think it is just that everything they are doing is amplified by 2.

My oldest daughter was 2 and a half when my second child was born. My second child is only 15 months older than my third child. So I have experienced having a baby and a two year old toddler. I have also experienced having a not quite one and a half year old and a baby. Both of these age groups together had challenges. Once my third child was born I had a newborn, a fifteen month old and a nearly four year old.

One of the most common phrases that a mother of Twins hears from another mother is a combination of one of these phrases.....

• I have a baby and a toddler.... I know what it is like to have Twins.
• I have a baby and a toddler.....It's harder than having Twins.
• I have more than two children under age 4, that is much harder than Twins
• I have more than two children under age four, that is just like having Twins or even Triplets.

Some combination of those phrases have been heard by most mothers of Twins. I know I have heard them on more than one Occasion. I know that most of  the mothers who are saying them usually do not try to start an argument or make light of the challenges they face as opposed to yours, but sometimes they do.

I enjoy cutting in on facebook posts that a Twin Mom is kind of in a light hearted debate with a Singleton Mom who is trying to make her believe that her job as a Mother of a baby and a toddler is so much harder than having Twins. I really enjoy cutting in and saying  "HA...you are wrong!!!  I have had a baby and a toddler TWICE and one of those times it included a PRESCHOOLER!! I have Twins now and IT IS VERY different than having a baby and a toddler. So TRY proving your case now!!!!"   It usually makes the other Twin Mom quite happy that I ended her argument for her with proven evidence that the Singleton Mom is dead wrong. I speak the truth though. I have been there and done that and lived it.

So, anyhow I have thought lately how having Twins who are almost three years old is much different than having my older three so close in age. I do think some aspects of parenting Twins at age three are a little easier than some other stages. One positive note is that they can both walk. I can walk with them and hold their hands. They can now tell me if they want or need something. Sometimes they can tell me what is wrong if they are not feeling well. They really enjoy being more independent. They keep asking me if they can use the toilet. I am not really trying to potty train right now, but when we are at home they often go and use the toilet.

They listen better at this age, and they are really getting to be great with the alphabet, numbers, some signing, speaking in sentences, mimicking, pretend play,  sharing, using manners, helping to clean up their toys, and many other little things.

The downfall to them becoming so independent is that I have to really make sure I am well rested and full of energy to keep up with them. They like to be a little more independent than they can handle at times. They get somewhat frustrated about not being able to walk with me through a parking lot without holding my hand. It is hard for them to understand that if we are walking through the park or from the car to the door is different than in a parking lot.  One of my Twins is really not mature enough to walk along with me without holding my hand but in certain places, I let them both. Usually it is just Graham who gets to walk with me without holding my hand. Parker tries to run off sometimes because he thinks it is fun to decided that suddenly I need to chase him.  He had two brain bleeds in the NICU at birth and a tonic clonic/grand mal seizure at almost age two. So he is maturing at a slightly slower rate than his Twin. 

They are very busy and like to be doing something engaging at all times. They enjoy playing independently and with each other but often want me or Dad, or an older sibling to be playing along too. They enjoy certain activities with certain family members. I take them to playdates usually five days a week. They are really enjoying making friends. They are getting really acquainted with their playgroup friends and talk about them a lot at home. They talk about going to playdates and asking about when they will see their friends next. They know some of their playmates Mommys by name. They are really enjoying the activities we do. They love to be busy. They still nap 3-4 hours once a day so it is really nice to get that break. They can really wear you out!!

It's a wild ride but I would not trade having Twins for anything!

I am in the process of planning their birthday party right now. Many decisions to make and then I have to get the invitations out!  I think it will be a lot of fun for them this year. They are always talking about party hats, birthday partys, and singing the happy birthday song!!

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5 days late, sorry!!!!

I have been pretty busy these past few days and it slipped my mind. DUH IT IS FEBRUARY!!!

So, without further ado, here are the February 2011 Multiples of the month!!
See them on the blog on the right!!

Their Mom, Heather sent me now and then photos!! awesome!

                                    Jessica Katherine and Victoria Robin

age 13

                                              Here they are again, younger!!

age 5!!

If you would like your multiples to be featured as Life with Twins and Multiples' Multiples of the Month......submit the following and their photo to: TwinsandMultiples@cfl.rr.com

Names, age, location

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Wordless Wednesday - Fun in the Sun

Here is my Wordless Wednesday. These photos were taken in 2010, in our backyard!

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diaper bag woes

I have tried several diaper bags out since my Twins were born in 2008. One was just a simple little black diaper bag with a long shoulder strap. It really was not very helpful. Then I tried out the larger version of that same diaper bag, I found it to be just as useless. Instead of it being an important thing that I always brought with me, it just sat in my mini-van. I have a few re-usable shopping bags that I end up throwing all of the essentials I will need for the day into.

The shopping bags are pretty easy to carry along but tend to be quite bulky, and make it quite hard to locate something you need in a pinch. I always end up digging and digging through the bag trying to find what I need. There are no compartments to keep anything in, so I always tried to turn back to one of my various diaper bags.

I finally ended up with the Skip Hop Duo Double Deluxe. I loved it, I really did. Well, really I just wanted to love it. Now don't get me wrong, it is a really nice diaper bag. It has a lot of great compartments. It is nice, stylish, easy to carry, and has these great shuttle clips that clip it to your double stroller. However if you pack the diaper bag 75% full of stuff you will need for your Twins(or more)......It will tip your stroller over, seriously.

Picture this, Sicily 1912  your hometown, a nice sunny morning around 9:30 am. You just parked your car in the parking lot at the local park. You get out, go to the back of your minivan and get out your double stroller. You get it all opened up, get it ready to put your Twins into and then you attach your fantastic Skip Hop Duo Double Deluxe diaper bag, with those awesome shuttle clips....right to your double stroller. It looks great, right? YES!! It does! The best thing about it is that you do not have to try and carry it while pushing your Twins in the double stroller! WooHOO You are SET, right? No! not so much because all of the sudden when you are walking away from your double stroller, diaper bag masterpiece you suddenly hear a BAM! Uhhhhhh, your diaper bag just pulled the whole freaking stroller down. nice.  *shakes fist at diaper bag and stroller* So, you pick it up, put in your Twins, lock up the minivan and push that HEAVY loaded down stroller across the parking lot, down the long sidewalk, to the playground.

WOW are you winded!
So when you get home, later on you decide to re-pack that diaper bag. You pull out a few things you do need but can sort of live without. Then next time, you think it will be fine but it PULLS THE STROLLER DOWN AGAIN, WTF!!

This obviously will never work, so you go back to keeping the diaper bag in the van and just carrying a few mega essentials with you in a re-usable shopping bag. boo.

Diaper bags  yarrrrrrrrr!

I really just want to stop this re-usable shopping bag madness, I normally have 2-3 with me full of stuff. Yikes! It never works out well. Plus now that my Twins are almost 3 years old, they often just walk with me holding my hand. This poses to be an issue if you are lugging a re-usable shopping bag too. I recently asked my FaceBook Mommy friends if they knew of a decent backpack that has a cooler compartment in it. I am always carrying the cooler bag with us too!! I carry a lot of bags with us!! I was shown the link to this Picnic Time Zuma Insulated Cooler Backpack.

It looked good, so I ordered it. I do like it, it is nice. I just hope it works out for me. I do have some pretty major back problems. It really does eliminate the need to carry a cooler bag and a diaper bag though. I love it so far. I really do feel I will continue to keep my Skip Hop duo double in the van though. It is a really nice bag. I just do not wish to carry it along with me. It is really bulky and, well it pulls my stroller down if packed 75% full. It does have it's place in my life though.

So, I ordered the Picnic Time Zuma Insulated Cooler Backpack in black but before I chose that color, I looked at the other colors. I could not help but to laugh at this fluorescent lime green one. I was joking with my friend Lisa from Mommying on the Fly about how if I had the fluorescent lime green one, low flying planes could spot me at night. hahahhahahha  Ok I guess ya had to be there. :)

It is NOT TOO LATE  to get yourself added to BlogHopPalooza, spread the word please...it is for ALL Mommy Bloggers!!


INTRODUCING The Star of the Blog World for January 2011!!!!!!

You will see this on the 5 hosts blogs and hopefully more blogs all throughout January!!! It is a month long mega blog HOP!!!!  Want more followers, get on board NOW!!!!






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BlogHopPalooza

Your 5 Blog Hostesses

1. Mommying On The Fly
2. Life With Twins and Multiples
3. Family Organic
4. The Thompson Twins
5. TwinHappy

The Rules
1. follow the first 5 blogs..
2.leave a comment that they have followed so we may follow back.

optional BUT a GOOD idea for all
3.add the badge
4.feel free to blog about it and add linky
5.follow others and have a blast

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Mom Bloggers

If you are a Mom with a blog, please get your blog added to

BlogHopPalooza

It is not just for Moms of Multiples!!

We have a facebook fan page for it now too!!

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The Shining, TMMB Closing, & other stuff

It has been an interesting week.

I am in a ton of pain still from my stroller workout on Tuesday with Sunshine Moms.
WOWSA!!!

Twins Magazine is closing their magazine, website, and message boards after 27 years of service.....so I asked them tonight if I can buy the message boards. I have a lot of friends that post there and they are all very sad about this.

The messages the many many many members are leaving on the message boards about it closing, are sad and overwhelming.  I really hope they have the heart to sell it to me *cheap*  I have made a little message board here on my blog for them all but it is not the same. In time it could be nice but why throw away a bag of apples if they are not ROTTEN yet??  I owned and operated a-mommys-world.com for nearly 12 years and I know how to operate a vbulletin. Heck I know how to install a vbulletin and it's database as well as tweak them when they need, repair them when they need, etc.

It would be inconsiderate of them not to sell it, the members want it, so why delete it?

Anyways, on to other things.

Graham and Parker have been very very active this week...and having lots of fun. Parker has become attached to this toy called a weazel ball. He is in love with it and calls it squishy. Seriously, squishy.  *lol*

He carries it everywhere, even to playdates. Graham always wants to play with it. He says "share a minute, ok" but Parker says  "No, my squishy". I will have to get Graham one next week. I never thought I would need two weazel balls.

Honestly I bought it to torment my cats. Parker was frightened of it for the first week we had it. Now it is his best friend.

  Weasel ball, a face only a mother could love  *giggle*

Last night they dressed me up in Mr Potato head's hat and eye glasses. I am pretty sure I looked ridiculous. They tackled me though so,. I had no choice but to be their own Mrs Potato Head. They kind of do that a lot lately. They gang up on their older brother and sisters and sometimes can tackle them down to the ground.  all in good fun though.

They have been eerily saying the same things at the precise same times this week. It's weird. They are fraternal and look nothing alike.

We had to visit the pediatrician today because we thought Graham had pink eye, it turns out he does not and it was just something irritated his eye and caused it to get pinkish and swollen up some. It turns out he has some allergy issues and has to take some OTC allergy stuff for a few days. Poor guy.  He has some allergy issues also with our Christmas Tree so I had to give our Christmas Tree the boot today...it was time for it to go anyways.

So when we were leaving the Pediatricians office, I ask them to say Thank you...

They both said it in sync. The doctor was a little spooked and said...Oh.... in stereo wow.

hahahah

Oh and this week they have been oddly appearing in the photos I take...like those twins in The Shining.  Seriously...

Notice how they just sort of appear oddly in each pic... almost like they are observing everyone..  hahahahahah  :P

I love having Twins, what a trip!

                                                    The Shining Twins

AGGHHHHH

                                       doo doo do doo doo do doo dooo

                                See them standing there over on the right, lmao

Here is a cute one of them playing at the park!

It was a really lovely day so we had some choo choo wagon fun :)

and to wrap it up..... I made chicken pot pies again!! So easy! YUMYUM!!

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